Why was The Merchant in RE4 cockney?

Okay so it only took me playing the original and the remake countless times over the years to realise... why was The Merchant cockney?

I mean it fits him perfectly - 'Allo stranger' - will always be legendary. But like... how did he get from East London to here lol? Maybe he was wanted by the law so took his arm dealing ways to the most demented part of Europe he could find ?

I wonder did the Japanese developers make this choice as the cockney accent is seen as a bit sinister? Or maybe there's some backstory here we've all missed out on.... not really a serious question so if you want to make up your own backstory, then shoot.... gun does rhyme with fun for a reason after all.